Cable feed apparatus



May 26, 1970 N. J. LOWERY CABLE FEED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1968 NICHOLAS JERRY LOWERY United States Patent 3,514,048 CABLE FEED APPARATUS Nicholas Jerry Lowery, West Babylon, N.Y. (300 Driftwood Drive W., Baywood Village, Palm Harbor, Fla. 33563 Filed Jan. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 699,648

Int. Cl. B65h 57/12 US. Cl. 242-157 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for guiding cable as it is wound onto or unwound from a drum while maintaining a suitable angle of feed and a suitable amount of tension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In our invention, We provide a supporting frame having an opening through which cable can be fed. A curved rigid hollow tube open at both ends is supported on the frame with one tube end disposed adjacent said opening. An elongated hollow flexible member is secured at one open end to the other end of the tube. The other open end of the member is disposed adjacent the cable carrying drum. The cable being wound onto or unwound from the drum passes through the member and the tube and out of the opening.

Because of the variable widths of drums and the variable number of turns of cable thereon which can be disposed in a plurality of layers, one on top of another, the angle and position of the cable, while being wound or unwound, will necessarily vary. Further the position of the cable in the opening of the frame will not change. The combined action of the member and tube permits the angle of feed and the position of feed to be automatically varied as required without creating additional stress and strains in the cable; such increased stress and strain is normally present but is eliminated through use of our device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of some of the component parts thereof; and

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of other parts thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 14, there is shown a drum with cable 12 wound therearound and having an end portion extending therefrom.

A flat support tray 14 has an opening 18 therein. This tray is not part of the cable apparatus per se but can support same. This tray can be a house phone panel installed and flush mounted on wall 16 of room, hall, etc. the opening 18 can be a conduit or raceway, depending upon the installation.

A horizontal flange 20 of a vertical plate 22 (trapezoidally shaped) spans the tray and is secured to opposite portions of the lip. Plate 22 has a hole 24.

A curved rigid hollow tube 26 open at opposite ends 28 and 30 is secured intermediate its ends to a second vertical plate 32 also having a hole 34. A vertical Wheel "ice 36 having enlarged holes 38 and a central hole 40 is secured to the plates by a bolt 42 passing through aligned holes 24, 34 and 40 with tube 26 bearing against a portion of the periphery of the wheel.

An elongated flexible hollow member 44 open at both ends has an enlarged free end 46 and an opposite smaller end 48 detachably engageable with end 30 by way of pin 50 and slot 52.

The cable 12 thus passes through member 44, tube 26 and opening 18 in the manner previously described. FIG. 1 in particular shows cable feed apparatus in use attached to a flush mounted phone panel or construction sight, showing cable being fed through conduit raceway concealed in the Wall of a building. The flexible member can change its position with changes in cable feed angle and position as shown in phantom in FIG. 1. Since the cable extends between the tube and the opening in the same direction as the vertical plates extend in the horizontal plane, the cable is not curled upon itself or twisted in any way.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, our protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Apparatus for winding cable onto a drum as well as unwinding cable from a drum, said apparatus being adapted to be secured to supporting frame having an opening through which cable can be fed and comprising:

a curved rigid hollow tube having one open end disposed adjacent said opening, said tube being supported by said frame; and

an elongated flexible hollow member secured at one open end to the other open end of said tube, the other open end of the member being disposed adjacent a drum carrying cable, said cable passing through said member, said tube and said frame opening.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other end of the flexible member has an opening larger than that of said one member end.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including tube supporting means for said tube, said means being secured to said frame.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means includes a vertical wheel, said tube being secured to a portion of the wheel periphery.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said wheel has a plurality of holes therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,357,716 9/1944 Ballamy et al 242-157 X 2,442,817 6/1948 Lyle 242-157 2,926,001 2/ 1960 Mack et al 242157 X 3,037,744 6/ 1962 Cooper. 3,052,450 9/ 1962 Trunnell 254- X 3,052,425 9/1962 Reed et a1. 242-157 X 3,363,879 1/ 1968 Irik.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 254-1343 

